Method and apparatus for simultaneously winding a plurality of threads on a single bobbin and article produced thereby



Apnl 21, 1959 w. LENK 2,882,574

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY WINDING A PLURAIJITY OF THREADSON A SINGLE BOBBIN AND ARTICLE PRODUCED THEREBY Filed Feb. 3, 1956 FIG.I

INVENTOR: WALTER LENK AT T'YS United States Patent METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR SIMULTANE- OUSLY WINDING A PLURALITY OF THREADS ON A SINGLE BOBBINAND ARTICLE PRO- DUCED THEREBY Walter Lenk, Remscheid-Lennep, Germany,assignor to Barmer Maschinenfabrik Aktiengesellschatt,Wuppertal-Oberbarmen, Germany This invention relates to a method andapparatus for winding a plurality of threads simultaneously on a windingbobbin.

In producing a spooled thread it is often desired to wind two or moreseparate threads'simultaneously on the same bobbin. The threads arecustomarily fed to the winding bobbin in a ribbon-like band and woundthereon in the same form. However, it is difiicult to obtain evenwinding since the threads tend to cross over each other. As a result,snarls frequently occur on later removal of the thread. To avoid theuneven winding, spring urged or weighted devices have been employed toequalize the tension on the threads as they are wound on the bobbin.However, these devices operate imperfectly and individual threads oftenforce their way between threads in lower layers.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a method and apparatusfor winding a plurality of threads simultaneously on the same bobbinwhich produces uni- "form layers of thread which can be removed insubsequent operations without snarling.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus forwinding a plurality of threads simultaneously on the same bobbin whichproduces uniform lengths of thread which are easily removed insubsequent operations.

In accordance with the invention these objects are accomplished by amethod and apparatus in which the several threads are twistedperiodically in opposite directions as the threads are wound upon thebobbin. As a result, a simulated or pseudo twist is imparted to thewound threads. The alternations in the direction of twist may followeach other very rapidly. For example, where two threads are being woundon the bobbin, the direction of twist may be alternated after as littleas one crossover. Since the twist resulting on the wound threadperiodically alternates its direction, the thread drawn from the bobbinin a subsequent use automatically reverts to the ribbon-like formwherein the individual threads lie parallel to each other.

The device for twisting the threads comprises a rotatable guide meansengaging and guiding the individual threads toward the bobbin, andreciprocating means operatively associated with the guide means forrotating the The guide means periodically'in opposite directions.periodic rotation in opposite directionsof the guide means is preferablyabout an axis parallel to the running direction of the thread. Thedevice for twisting the threads is situated immediately preceding thewinding bobbin so that the threads are twisted immediately prior to orat the instant of winding upon the bobbin and may, if desired, becombined with a conventional thread layer device.

The invention will be more clearly understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings in which like num- This not only makes re- 'rnovalof the thread diflicult but also causes variations v in the lengths ofthe individual threads.

2,882,674 Patented Apr. 21, 1959 bers are used throughout to indicatelike parts, and wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a pair of threads twisted accordingto the invention; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevational section of another form of apparatusaccording to the invention.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is exemplified in Figs. 1 and 2and partially in Fig. 4 in which 1 is a conventional thread layer devicemounted on a thread layer rod 2 so as to reciprocate in the directionsshown by the arrows A in front of the winding bobbin 3 with thecompletion of each layer of thread. A device for twisting the threads 4and 5 being wound on the bobbin 3 is incorporated in the thread layer 1and includes a pinion wheel 6 provided with a plurality of guide holes7, 8, 9, and 10, which engage and guide the individual threads (in thiscase the two threads 4 and 5) toward the bobbin. A reciprocating rack11, moving in the directions of the arrows B between stops 12 and 13,drivingly engages the pinion wheel 6 so that the pinion wheel is rotatedperiodically in opposite directions, and a simulated twist (shown inFig. 3) is imparted to the threads as the threads are wound upon thebobbin 3. Instead of the pinion 6 and the rack member 11, frictionmembers 'may be employed, i.e. a wheel frictionally engaged by afreciprocating rod. The number of guide holes employed in the pinion 6may be varied but is preferably equivalent to the number of threads tobe combined. The motion of the twister device, i.e. 'rack 11 and pinion6, may be independent from the reciprocating motion in the directions Aof the thread layer 1 or may be coupled to it. In the latter case thepinion could be driven with the motion A of the thread layer 1 byengaging fixed racks located on both sides of the thread layer rod 2.

A further embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 4 in which thetwister device includes a guide-roller member 14 frictionally engagingand guiding the threads 15 toward the bobbin. The guide-roller member 14is eccentrically mounted on a pinion wheel 16 having a central bore 17for passage of the threads 15. The pinion wheel 16 is drivingly engagedby the reciprocating rack 11, as in Fig. 1, so that the pinion wheelwith the guideroller member 14 thereon is rotated periodically inopposite directions and a simulated twist is imparted to the threads asthe threads are wound upon the bobbin. The guide-roller member mayconsist of a single roller around which the threads are looped so as tobe frictionally engaged or may consist of upper rollers 18 and 19 and alower roller 20, as shown in Fig. 4. The lower roller 20 is urgedupwardly by a spring 21 so as to frictionally engage the threads passingbetween lower roller 20 and the upper rollers 18 and 19.

The simulated twist imparted to the threads-wound 'upon the windingbobbin results in uniform layers of thread with no tendency of theindividual threads to work their way down into lower layers, and sincethe thread has been twisted alternately in opposite directions, the

twist is automatically undone as the threads are drawn guiding theindividual threads toward the bobbin and re ciprocating meansoperatively associated with the guide means for rotating the guide meansperiodically in QPPosite directions a plurality of times while saidrotatable guide means is in reciprocable movement in a given directionwhereby a simulated twist is imparted to the threads as the threads arewound upon the bobbin.

.2. In a machine for winding a plurality of threads simultaneously on awinding bobbin, reciprocable means for distributing-the threads inlayers on the bobbin,'said means including a guide means engaging andguiding the individual threads toward the bobbin, said guide meanshaving a pinion rotatable therewith and a reciprocating rackdrivingly'engaging the pinion for rotating the guide means periodicallyin opposite directions during the reciprocal movement of said guidemeans in a-given direction whereby a simulated twist is imparted to thethreads as the threads are wound upon the bobbin.

- 3. In a machine for winding a plurality of threads simultaneously on awinding bobbin, reciprocable means for distributing the threads inlayers on the bobbin, said means including a pinion wheel provided witha plurality of guide holes engaging and guiding the individual threadstoward the bobbin, and a reciprocating rack drivingly engaging thepinion wheel for rotatably oscillating the pinion wheel periodically inopposite directions during the reciprocal movement of said pinion wheelin a given direction whereby a simulated twist is imparted to thethreads as the threads are wound upon the bobbin.

4. In a machine for winding a plurality of threads simultaneously on awinding bobbin, a device for twisting the threads being wound on thebobbin, said device comprising -a guide-roller member frictionallyengaging and guiding the threads toward the bobbin, said member beingeccentrically mounted on a pinion wheel, and. a reciprocating rackdrivingly engaging the pinion wheel whereby the pinion wheel with, theguide-roller member thereon is rotated periodically in oppositedirections. and a Simulated t ist: is. imparted, to the threads as the;threads are wound upon the bobbin.

5,. In a machine for winding a plurality of threads simultaneously on awinding bobbin, a device for simulated twisting of the threads beingwound on the bobbin, said device comprising roller means adapted tofrictionallyengage the threads, said roller means beingmounted on. arotatable member, and drive means associated with said member forrotatably oscillating said member and the roller means thereon wherebysaid member and the roller means thereon are rotated periodically inopposite directions and a. simulatedtwist is imparted to the threads asthe threads arewound upon the bobbin.

6. The method ofwinding in superposed, uniform layers aplurality ofthreads simultaneously on a winding bobbin While twisting the threads inopposite directions with rapid alterations inv the direction of twist asthe threads are wound in said superposed layers upon the bobbin, therate; of alterations in direction of twist providing only about onecross-over oi the wound threads in each direction, whereby a simulatedtwist is imparted to the wound threads.

7. A method for winding a plurality of threads simultaneously on. awinding bobbin comprising winding said threads onsaid bobbin in uniformlayers by-moving the thread path longitudinally along the winding bobbinwhile twisting the threads periodically in opposite directions withrapidv alterations in the direction of twist just prior t on c of thethreads wi h t e bobbin and thr a wound thereon to provide a pluralityof alternating twists in a given thread layer on said bobbin.

8. In a machine for winding a plurality of threads simultaneously on awinding bobbin, a winding bobbin, means reciprocable longitudinally ofsaid winding bobbin for distributing the threads in layers on saidbobbin, said means including a rotatable thread-twisting means fortwisting the threads just prior to winding thereof on said bobbin withdrive means operable independently of said first-mentioned means andoperatively associated with said thread-twisting means for rotatablyoscillating said thread-twisting means during reciprocation of saidfirstmentioned means, whereby a simulated twist is imparted to thethreads as the threads are wound in layers upon the bobbin.

9. The combination of claim 8 "wherein said meadtwisting means-hasa-pinion rotatable therewith and the drive means for'rotatablyoscillating said thread-twisting means is a reciprocating rack drivinglyengaging the pinion.

10. In a machine for winding a plurality of threads simultaneously on awinding bobbin, a winding bobbin, threaddwisting means adjacent saidwinding bobbin and reciprocable longitudinally of said winding bobbinfor twisting thethreads just prior to winding thereof on said bobbimfanddrive means'operatively associated with said thread-twisting means forrotatably oscillating'said threadtwist-ing means a plurality of timeswhile said thread- -twisti-ng means is in longitudinal motion in a'givendirection,

1:11. A method for winding a plurality of threads 011a winding bobbincomprising simultaneously winding the threads in successive, superposed,uniform layers on. a rotating winding, bobbin while imparting a multiplenumber; oi periodic twists inalternating directions tothe threads ineach layer on the winding bobbin as they are wound thereon to give asimulated. twist to the threads in each. layer.

12. Amethod for winding a plurality of threads on a winding bobbincomprising reciprocally guiding the threads longitudinally of a rotatingwinding bobbin to distribute "the wound threads in successive layers onsaid bobbin, and imparting at the: point of reciprocal guiding a.twisting motion to the threads, immediately prior to their winding uponsaid bobbin, about each other with rapid alterations in the direction oftwist during the reciprocal, guiding movement of the threads in a givendirection of reciprocal movement, whereby the wound threads ina. givenlayer on said winding bobbin have a simulated twist.

13: A: bobbin having a thread body wound thereon comprising a bobbinupon which is wound a plurality of threadsdistributed in successivelayers on the bobbin, the threads in eachlayer being twisted about eachother peniodically in a multiple number of twists in opposite direc-

